China is in a crackdown mode. From tech to education to real-estate, even gaming has not escaped the reach of the Communist Party of China (CCP). Though the entire and clearest picture as to why the state has resorted to such measures is yet to fully come to light, media reports are rife with claims from experts around the world who say that this is an attempt by the Chinese state to rein in 'out of control' sectors and assert its primacy in China's internal affairs.

Billions of dollars have been wiped out from the wealth of Chinese business tycoons like Jack Ma and their companies. The crackdown in many sectors has investors, both within and outside China, worrying about their money stuck in Chinese financial system. The government, till now, appears in no mood to stop.

But when you play with economy too much, the game comes back to bite you as it has been already seen in the Mao era.

In this particular example, Mao did not play with economy as much as he apparently satisfied his urge to show the country that he is the man who can successfully implement sweeping reforms.

The hasty, unscientific decision

Mao Zedong in his Great Leap Forward in the 1950s, announced major, sweeping campaigns with an aim to modernise China and improve Chinese life. It was viewed that sparrows were an obstacle to development as they ate foodgrains.

In 1958, Mao appealed the Chinese to undertake a massive campaign to eliminate the bird that in his view was keeping China from fully achieving its potential.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/chinas-evergrande-crisis-a-global-financial-crisis-in-the-making-414669">China's Evergrande crisis: A global financial crisis in the making</a>

Large number of people were mobilised for this. They destroyed sparrow nests, shot the birds down from the sky, set up traps, even beat drums to stop sparrows from landing so that they would die by exhaustion. The scale of this operation was massive.

Exact numbers are not known but even if it is considered that one person killed one sparrow, it would come to more than 600 million birds having been killed!

The effects of such a hasty and unscientific decision were apparent immediately in the following year.

Sparrows did not just eat foodgrains. They also ate insects that destroyed the crops. As sparrows effectively vanished from the Chinese skies, it caused massive increase in the number of insects like locusts who brought devastation to Chinese agriculture. With its natural predator gone, the insects were free to destroy crops at will.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hong-kong-stock-exchange-halts-trading-of-evergrande-shares-418036">Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares</a>

The result was death of millions of Chinese people due to shortage of food or other domino effects that had killing of sparrows as their cause. Official Chinese estimates say that 15 million people died. But some scholars say that the number was between 45 and 78 million.

Current crackdown similar to Mao's?

Chinese President Xi Jinping's crackdown may have come at a time when China is not a primitive nation but one capable of challenging reigning superpower, but effects of the sweeping decisions are more than apparent.

Take <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/chinas-evergrande-crisis-a-global-financial-crisis-in-the-making-414669">Evergrande crisis</a> for example.

The prominent real estate group in China is tottering on the brink of collapse. It has a debt upwards of USD 300 billion, far greater than the company's actual value. Evergrande failed to pay interest to bondholders at least two times recently. This has sent a major scare among investors worldwide.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/evergrande-investors-in-dark-as-no-news-on-interest-payment-emerges-415591">Evergrande investors in dark as no news on interest payment emerges</a>

The recent warning bells from China's real estate sector followed country's crackdown on excessive borrowing by real estate companies. Though the intention may be to discipline the sector, collapse of a major firm can have a disastrous effect across Chinese economy and have a spillover in global economy. The crackdown is already causing loan losses at banks and pain in credit markets. They are wary eyes on the fate of Evergrande.

Real estate sector forms a quarter of China's economy. A major rumble in this sector can shake the economy that invests heavily in US economy. It is too well known that when US economy sneezes, global markets go down with high fever.

Chinese way of decision-making may necessitate an iron fist and sweeping decisions. But will China make the same mistake twice is something that is being actively observed.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

China is in a crackdown mode. From tech to education to real-estate, even gaming has not escaped the reach of the Communist Party of China (CCP). Though the entire and clearest picture as to why the state has resorted to such measures is yet to fully come to light, media reports are rife with claims from experts around the world who say that this is an attempt by the Chinese state to rein in 'out of control' sectors and assert its primacy in China's internal affairs.

China is in a crackdown mode. From tech to education to real-estate, even gaming has not escaped the reach of the Communist Party of China (CCP). Though the entire and clearest picture as to why the state has resorted to such measures is yet to fully come to light, media reports are rife with claims from experts around the world who say that this is an attempt by the Chinese state to rein in 'out of control' sectors and assert its primacy in China's internal affairs. Billions of dollars have been wiped out from the wealth of Chinese business tycoons like Jack Ma and their companies. The crackdown in many sectors has investors, both within and outside China, worrying about their money stuck in Chinese financial system. The government, till now, appears in no mood to stop. But when you play with economy too much, the game comes back to bite you as it has been already seen in the Mao era. In this particular example, Mao did not play with economy as much as he apparently satisfied his urge to show the country that he is the man who can successfully implement sweeping reforms. The hasty, unscientific decision Mao Zedong in his Great Leap Forward in the 1950s, announced major, sweeping campaigns with an aim to modernise China and improve Chinese life. It was viewed that sparrows were an obstacle to development as they ate foodgrains. In 1958, Mao appealed the Chinese to undertake a massive campaign to eliminate the bird that in his view was keeping China from fully achieving its potential. Also Read | China's Evergrande crisis: A global financial crisis in the making Large number of people were mobilised for this. They destroyed sparrow nests, shot the birds down from the sky, set up traps, even beat drums to stop sparrows from landing so that they would die by exhaustion. The scale of this operation was massive. Exact numbers are not known but even if it is considered that one person killed one sparrow, it would come to more than 600 million birds having been killed! The effects of such a hasty and unscientific decision were apparent immediately in the following year. Sparrows did not just eat foodgrains. They also ate insects that destroyed the crops. As sparrows effectively vanished from the Chinese skies, it caused massive increase in the number of insects like locusts who brought devastation to Chinese agriculture. With its natural predator gone, the insects were free to destroy crops at will. Also Read | Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares The result was death of millions of Chinese people due to shortage of food or other domino effects that had killing of sparrows as their cause. Official Chinese estimates say that 15 million people died. But some scholars say that the number was between 45 and 78 million. Current crackdown similar to Mao's? Chinese President Xi Jinping's crackdown may have come at a time when China is not a primitive nation but one capable of challenging reigning superpower, but effects of the sweeping decisions are more than apparent. Take Evergrande crisis for example. The prominent real estate group in China is tottering on the brink of collapse. It has a debt upwards of USD 300 billion, far greater than the company's actual value. Evergrande failed to pay interest to bondholders at least two times recently. This has sent a major scare among investors worldwide. Also Read | Evergrande investors in dark as no news on interest payment emerges The recent warning bells from China's real estate sector followed country's crackdown on excessive borrowing by real estate companies. Though the intention may be to discipline the sector, collapse of a major firm can have a disastrous effect across Chinese economy and have a spillover in global economy. The crackdown is already causing loan losses at banks and pain in credit markets. They are wary eyes on the fate of Evergrande. Real estate sector forms a quarter of China's economy. A major rumble in this sector can shake the economy that invests heavily in US economy. It is too well known that when US economy sneezes, global markets go down with high fever. Chinese way of decision-making may necessitate an iron fist and sweeping decisions. But will China make the same mistake twice is something that is being actively observed. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | Is China's Xi Jinping repeating Mao's mistake?

At a time when people desperately are longing to step out of their homes amid the unlock phase in many parts of India, villagers in Pothukkudi, of Tamil Nadu’s Siuvaganga district, have restricted going out and have decided to leave their village in the dark, specifically after sunset. The reason is that they’ have decided against switching on the street lights at their village, after birds started nesting at the common electricity switchboard in the village. In order to save the birds and ensure the safety of the new-born chicks, the village came together.&nbsp;

It was a 20-year old student named Karuppuraja who first spotted the birds nest and the eggs in the switchboard. Following which, he informed the village WhatsApp group and requested that the streetlights remain switched off, keeping in mind the safety of the birds.

While the villagers refer to the bird colloquially, as ‘Kuruvi’ (sparrow), it appears to be a species of Magpie-Robin.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chennai-cops-perform-final-rites-after-aged-couple-end-lives-due-to-poverty-sons-neglect-315736">Also read|&nbsp;Chennai: Cops perform final rites after aged couple end lives due to poverty, sons' neglect</a>

It is said that the village that houses about 100 families has 35 streetlights, all of which were connected to the common switchboard (where the birds had nested).&nbsp;

Karthik, a resident of Pothakudi says that everyone in their village instantly agreed to avoid streetlights for the sake of protecting the birds. “We knew that turning the lights on would be a serious hinderance to the birds, so we chose to remain in the dark following 6pm and haven’t switched the lights on for about 35 days” he says.&nbsp;

He adds that the villagers were doing this for the sake of the birds and also the future generations who must grow up marveling at these beautiful creatures.&nbsp;

At a time when people desperately are longing to step out of their homes amid the unlock phase in many parts of India, villagers in Pothukkudi, of Tamil Nadu’s Siuvaganga district, have restricted going out and have decided to leave their village in the dark, specifically after sunset.

At a time when people desperately are longing to step out of their homes amid the unlock phase in many parts of India, villagers in Pothukkudi, of Tamil Nadu’s Siuvaganga district, have restricted going out and have decided to leave their village in the dark, specifically after sunset. The reason is that they’ have decided against switching on the street lights at their village, after birds started nesting at the common electricity switchboard in the village. In order to save the birds and ensure the safety of the new-born chicks, the village came together. It was a 20-year old student named Karuppuraja who first spotted the birds nest and the eggs in the switchboard. Following which, he informed the village WhatsApp group and requested that the streetlights remain switched off, keeping in mind the safety of the birds. While the villagers refer to the bird colloquially, as ‘Kuruvi’ (sparrow), it appears to be a species of Magpie-Robin. Also read| Chennai: Cops perform final rites after aged couple end lives due to poverty, sons' neglect It is said that the village that houses about 100 families has 35 streetlights, all of which were connected to the common switchboard (where the birds had nested). Karthik, a resident of Pothakudi says that everyone in their village instantly agreed to avoid streetlights for the sake of protecting the birds. “We knew that turning the lights on would be a serious hinderance to the birds, so we chose to remain in the dark following 6pm and haven’t switched the lights on for about 35 days” he says. He adds that the villagers were doing this for the sake of the birds and also the future generations who must grow up marveling at these beautiful creatures.

Anything for avian friends: Village in Tamil Nadu avoids streetlights to protect birds

Photo Attribution

 
Where have the sparrows gone?

When was the last time you saw a sparrow chirping near your window? 
The house sparrow has been one of the oldest companions of humans. Poets of all languages have praised of their trust and love for each other. Sparrows have been associated by the ancient Greeks with Aphrodite- the goddess of love, due to their perceived lustfulness. The association was inscribed by writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer.

The familiar bird prefers to live around agricultural areas, and for several, human settlements are a primary habitat. House sparrows for a long period of time have been known to reside around buildings.

However, over the last 5 decades, sparrows have deserted human company in urban areas, preferring the countryside to make short visits to close by human habitats.&nbsp;

World Sparrow Day 
The sudden and puzzling alienation led to the species being included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in UK.&nbsp; 
World Sparrow Day is observed on March 20 across the world as an international initiative taken in 2010 by Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. It aims to provide a platform for advocacy and spreading awareness on the need to conserve biodiversity of lower conservation status. Delhi adopted House sparrow as the state bird.

 
Reasons for decline 
Contrary to their small size, sparrows are strongly immune birds. Their abrupt disappearance must be seen as an ecological indication or warning to humans about forthcoming environmental menace. Several environmentalists&nbsp;have put theories on the table to account for sparrows to abandon human habitat and they all conclude to the fact that the changes in the human lifestyle and mindless urbanisation is increasingly incompatible with the conservative lifestyles of sparrows and is depriving the species of their natural habitat.

These changes include the unavailability of food in form of tiny insects due to the&nbsp;reduction of vegetation in modern adaptations, overuse of insecticides outdoors and insect repellents indoors and concrete buildings with no nesting spaces.

Further, noise and air pollution from vehicles in urban settlement could be deterrents. Moreover, the rise in electromagnetic radiations from mobile phone towers and the excessive use of wireless devices in houses have caused the birds to move away. It could be the combined effect of these environmental pollutants that has forced sparrows to go away from their long-trusted companions.

Things you did not know about the little bird

<ul>
	<li>The population of the bird has fallen by 99% in some areas</li>
	<li>When their population was abundant about century ago, there were clubs whose members competed to kill the most birds</li>
	<li>Though a commonly observed resident of Britain and India, it&rsquo;s thought to be a native north from North Africa.</li>
	<li>They are often seen as social birds, nesting together in colonies.</li>
	<li>They are non-migratory, but urban flocks traditionally moved to the countryside in the late summer to feed on the ripening grain fields.</li>
	<li>Most pairs raise two to three broods in a year.</li>
	<li>Incubation period is of about 11 days, and within two weeks, the young ones leave the nest.</li>
	<li>Cats are major predators of the species. They target the inexperienced infants when mothers leave the nest</li>
	<li>Sparrows fly at 24 miles/hour. When in danger, they can go up to 31 miles/hour.</li>
	<li>Sparrows can survive for 4-5 years in the wild</li>
</ul>

What can we do for them?

Placing feeders and bird houses outside the house or in the courtyard/balcony 
Placing water bowls during summer months to keep birds hydrated 
Create a welcoming environment for birds by growing plants and hedges around the house

Abrupt disappearance of sparrows must be seen as an ecological indication to humans about forthcoming environmental menace

Photo Attribution Where have the sparrows gone? When was the last time you saw a sparrow chirping near your window? The house sparrow has been one of the oldest companions of humans. Poets of all languages have praised of their trust and love for each other. Sparrows have been associated by the ancient Greeks with Aphrodite- the goddess of love, due to their perceived lustfulness. The association was inscribed by writers such as Shakespeare and Chaucer. The familiar bird prefers to live around agricultural areas, and for several, human settlements are a primary habitat. House sparrows for a long period of time have been known to reside around buildings. However, over the last 5 decades, sparrows have deserted human company in urban areas, preferring the countryside to make short visits to close by human habitats. World Sparrow Day The sudden and puzzling alienation led to the species being included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in UK. World Sparrow Day is observed on March 20 across the world as an international initiative taken in 2010 by Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. It aims to provide a platform for advocacy and spreading awareness on the need to conserve biodiversity of lower conservation status. Delhi adopted House sparrow as the state bird. Reasons for decline Contrary to their small size, sparrows are strongly immune birds. Their abrupt disappearance must be seen as an ecological indication or warning to humans about forthcoming environmental menace. Several environmentalists have put theories on the table to account for sparrows to abandon human habitat and they all conclude to the fact that the changes in the human lifestyle and mindless urbanisation is increasingly incompatible with the conservative lifestyles of sparrows and is depriving the species of their natural habitat. These changes include the unavailability of food in form of tiny insects due to the reduction of vegetation in modern adaptations, overuse of insecticides outdoors and insect repellents indoors and concrete buildings with no nesting spaces. Further, noise and air pollution from vehicles in urban settlement could be deterrents. Moreover, the rise in electromagnetic radiations from mobile phone towers and the excessive use of wireless devices in houses have caused the birds to move away. It could be the combined effect of these environmental pollutants that has forced sparrows to go away from their long-trusted companions. Things you did not know about the little bird The population of the bird has fallen by 99% in some areas When their population was abundant about century ago, there were clubs whose members competed to kill the most birds Though a commonly observed resident of Britain and India, it’s thought to be a native north from North Africa. They are often seen as social birds, nesting together in colonies. They are non-migratory, but urban flocks traditionally moved to the countryside in the late summer to feed on the ripening grain fields. Most pairs raise two to three broods in a year. Incubation period is of about 11 days, and within two weeks, the young ones leave the nest. Cats are major predators of the species. They target the inexperienced infants when mothers leave the nest Sparrows fly at 24 miles/hour. When in danger, they can go up to 31 miles/hour. Sparrows can survive for 4-5 years in the wild What can we do for them? Placing feeders and bird houses outside the house or in the courtyard/balcony Placing water bowls during summer months to keep birds hydrated Create a welcoming environment for birds by growing plants and hedges around the house

World Sparrow Day: Where have the birds gone?

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